Carnatic vocalist Radha Vishwanathan daughter of MS passes away

Bengaluru: Carnatic vocalist Radha Vishwanathan, daughter of legendary classical singer MS Subbulakshmi, passed away at a private hospital here, her family said today. 

Vishwanathan, 83, developed breathing-related complications following which she was admitted to the Fortis Hospital here yesterday morning. She died late last night. She had accompanied her mother Subbulakshmi, a Bharat Ratna award winner, during her concerts, including overseas events, for decades. 

“The voice which sang ‘Amani Manadho Manyo Lokaswami Trilokadruth’ has now merged with that of her mother (MS Subbulakshmi),” her son V Shrinivasan posted on his Facebook page. Vishwanathan is survived by sons V Chandrasekhar and Shrinivasan and daughter Subhalakshmi and two granddaughters S Aishwarya and S Saundarya.

Shrinivasan’s wife Geetha said her mother-in-law used to develop chest congestion during winter seasons and this time her condition deteriorated last evening and the end came at 11.50 pm. Shrinivasan recalled that his mother, who had a history of Tuberculosis Meningitis since 1982, was “a fighter right to her end.

For 36 years, she fought against physical adversities but never ever complained about the pain she suffered.She bore her sufferings with a smile. “We have lots and lots to learn from her,” he added. Srinivasan said, as the ‘Venkatesa Suprabatham’, ‘Vishnu Sahasranama’ and ‘Bhaja Govindam’ play out in millions of temples and homes across the world, the voice of Radha will be heard, inseparable from the voice of her legendary mother. Subbulakshmi passed away in December 2004 aged 88.